A flydubai Boeing 737 MAX passenger aircraft, flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv, caused widespread alarm after initially transmitting the emergency code 7700, and then 7500 — a signal indicating unauthorised interference, which is used, in particular, in the event of a possible hijacking. Israel scrambled fighter jets, but it later emerged that, according to preliminary reports, the incident was linked to a physical altercation between the two pilots. The aircraft landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
The aeroplane issued two distress signals
The incident took place on the morning of 30 September on a flight Flydubai FZ1073 from Dubai to Ben Gurion International Airport. On board were 174 passengers, including 27 children. The plane took off from Dubai at around 07:05 local time and was due to arrive in Tel Aviv at approximately 09:30.
About an hour and a half into the flight, when the Boeing was flying near Jordan, the crew transmitted the transponder code 7700. This is the international signal for a general emergency. A few minutes later, a far more alarming code appeared — 7500. In aviation, it refers to unlawful interference with the control of an aircraft and is often used to report a possible hijacking. Almost immediately, the airliner turned round, began to deviate from its route to Tel Aviv and dropped significantly in altitude.
Israel has scrambled fighter jets
The situation was initially perceived as a potential hijacking.
The Israeli military fighter jets were scrambled, whilst the security services began to investigate what was happening on board. At one stage, the Israeli side reported that it was unable to establish contact with the pilot.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the Minister of Defence Israel Katz They held an urgent security consultation. Military, intelligence and law enforcement agencies were involved in assessing the situation. However, Israeli officials were quick to emphasise that there was no conclusive evidence that the aircraft had been hijacked at that stage.
The cause may have been a fight between the pilots
After landing, an unexpected explanation emerged for the situation. According to Ynet and The Times of Israel, citing Israeli security sources, the emergency was linked to a physical altercation between the two pilots in the cockpit. Ynet also reports that Flydubai has confirmed that the distress signal was linked to a dispute between crew members. Consequently, the Israeli side has ruled out the possibility of a hijacking.
The Associated Press also reports that, according to Israeli media and security sources, the emergency was caused by an argument between the two pilots. Everyone on board survived.
A Boeing aircraft made an emergency landing in Tabuk
The aeroplane eventually set off for Saudi Arabia and landed safely at Tabuk Airport. Once the aircraft had landed, there was no longer any threat to the passengers. Flydubai decided to send another aircraft from Dubai to Saudi Arabia to collect the 174 passengers and fly them to Israel.
Thus, one of the most alarming aviation incidents of the morning ended without the aircraft being hijacked and with no reports of any passengers being injured.
What is known about the pilots
Initial reports that the conflict in the cockpit involved a Ukrainian and a Russian pilot turned out to be incorrect. According to Israel’s Channel 9, The co-pilot, who allegedly attacked the captain, is an Omani national, whilst the captain is a UAE national.
Israeli media are also reporting new details of the incident. According to an initial account, the co-pilot may have attacked the captain with a knife. Reuters, citing passenger accounts, also reports that there was a man with a knife in the cockpit and that a pilot was injured.
At the same time, reports that the attacker allegedly wanted to take his own life and deliberately cause a plane crash, although this remains the version put forward by the Israeli media and has not been officially confirmed by Flydubai. According to the same reports, there was an additional crew of pilots who were travelling as passengers. Following the incident, they allegedly entered the cockpit, took control of the Boeing and guided it to a safe landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia. The airline has not yet publicly disclosed any information regarding the presence of a standby crew or the details of the handover of control.
Flydubai has officially confirmed only that an incident occurred during the flight, following which the aircraft landed safely in Tabuk, and all passengers were unharmed. An investigation into the circumstances of the incident is ongoing.
